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Work together to cut expenses in UA

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Wednesday October 9, 2013 5:28 AM

I would like to thank Steven H. Lichtblau for his Sunday letter “Retired teacher changed tune on
raises,” which supports Educate UA’s position. Lichtblau wrote that during his time on the Upper
Arlington Board of Education, he “found it difficult to stem the growth of salaries and
benefits."

Educate UA agrees: Salaries and benefits in the UA schools are on a runaway course. Even the
Ohio Education Association supports our findings. Its September magazine lists UA as the
second-highest-paying school district in Ohio. Instead of threatening cuts to teachers, Educate UA
has identified solutions. We advocate making adjustments to the district’s health-care package to
bring it in line with the private sector.

We also propose freezing the wage scale until the economy has rebounded. This helps curb salary
growth and slows benefit increases, since taxpayer-funded contributions to the State Teachers
Retirement Fund are based on teacher salaries.

Even with these changes, UA schools will have some of the highest compensation packages around.
When the district talks about balancing its budget, it’s balancing a projected budget that includes
generous compensation increases. In the private sector, when times get tough, increases need to be
curbed so businesses can stay afloat. This hasn’t happened with the UA schools.

We can continue to say it is too “difficult to stem the growth of salaries and benefits” or we
can look at solutions.

Let’s come together and look at the avenues available to us and not close the door on our
children’s future by threatening their teachers. It’s time for solutions.